Tempting Kisses (ENGLISH)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 

YESENIA ESCOBAR 

AMIDST THE LOUD and scandalous crowd, I can still hear my name screamed by the people who're gawking over this body. This body has been parading in the middle of Paladizzo for years now, and somehow I can't help but feel uneasy. Maybe no woman wants to parade her body all the time and have others gawk at her, but it's needed because it's her job. 

Every motion and movement of my body was met with screams from those surrounding me. I'm not sure how they'll react if they see me without a mask and come across me on the road. It makes me wonder sometimes if this is caused by their fascination with me or their desire to have me for themselves. 

Is this how they're going to react? Will they adore or despise me for the path I've chosen? Or will they judge me as well as the people I meet?  

“Thank you for coming tonight. I hope you enjoy the rest of the show. Let’s get wasted!” I shouted as the beat of the music got loud and wild. 

Before I went down the stage, the lights around me were turned off, and as I walked down to my dressing room, I could still hear their screams. I was taken aback that before I could reach my dressing room, a group of men blocked our way. The bouncers who were with me rushed in front of me and protected me from the men who were now looking at me like ravenous beasts. When one of the men called me, I could feel panic and terror crawling into my body.

“Come on, Nia! Just one night. I can pay you more than you can earn here.” 

The man with glasses said, grinning at me. His laughter echoed throughout the hallway, creeping me out. I laughed as I clenched my hands at what I heard. "Why can you afford the price of every dance I do?" I asked boldly, even though my hands were already shaking.

 But instead of answering what I said, he rushed towards me, making me scream in horror when he wrestled with the bouncer. My dread was heightened when a man almost jumped at me. As he attempted to pull me, my mask almost went off. I lost my balance due to extreme fear, but a pair of arms caught me. But instead of catching my body, he was now holding my chest, so I was even more terrified and just cried out in panic.

“Oh, s**t! s**t! s**t! You fvcking pervert!” I shouted as I moved away from the man who had caught me. 

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that to happen. I am just helping you.” 

Despite the fact that he had touched my t**s, he continued to deny it. I was even more annoyed when he was still lying, even if he had already been caught red-handed. I wanted to argue with him, but I couldn't since Argus had arrived with some Paladizzo guards. Vika swiftly drew me away from there and into whoever's dressing room it was. When she put me down, I saw that my entire body was still trembling. Even now, I can feel those hands gripping my body, even though they have no malice against me.

Vika handed me a bottle of water that I almost threw away because my hands were so weak. “Rest. Don’t worry about the people outside,” she said as she consoled me again. 

“I–I ca–can’t breathe—” 

I could hear Vika's feeble voice calling me, but I didn't have the strength to answer her. And before I could even finish the word I wanted to say, my sight darkened, and I slowly lost consciousness. 

When I opened my eyes, a white ceiling and a chlorine smell greeted me, and dextrose was attached to my hand. A voice boomed out around the room as I attempted to remove it. "You can't take it off," he said as he stepped up to me and took my hand away.  

“What are you doing here? Why am I here? Where is Vika?” I bombarded him with question after question. 

Before he could respond, the door opened, and Vika entered with a worried expression on her face. "Yesia! Thank God you're awake now. We were worried about you." She sobbed and embraced me, so I couldn't help but hug her back. 

“I’m okay now. What happened?” 

The doctor and nurse entered the room where I was before they could respond. Vika, next to me, sobbed uncontrollably when the doctor stated that I had collapsed due to stress. My gaze was directed to a guy standing in the corner of the room, eagerly listening to what my doctor was saying. 

Argus arrived with Eury and my other friends after the doctor had departed. They brought me fruits and snacks since they joked that I would not be able to appreciate the food at the hospital. I would have asked about my daughter, but Argus had already informed me that Ishie was at their residence and had no clue about what had happened to me. I sighed in relief because I didn't want Ishie to be concerned about things she shouldn't be. 

I want her to be able to live her life freely, unlike I did when I was younger. I wanted her to be happy and enjoy the life I had never experienced before. Even though the life I can give Ishie is not as luxurious as what others have, I still want her to be happy. 

“Aren’t you leaving?” I turned to the man sitting alone on the couch. 

“Why would he leave? He is the one who helped us bring you here,” Rogue responded to my question.

“Save? Help? He touched my fvcking breast! That man is a pervert!” 

Eli sprang to his feet, ready to defend himself, but it was Argus who spoke for him. He rushed to defend his friend, who appeared to be quite lovely and would do nothing wrong based on his remarks.

I also stayed in the hospital for a day. Eury and Roux stayed with me the whole day I was in the hospital. Fortunately, when Argus decided to leave, he left together with his arrogant friend. It's just aggravating that my friends keep asking me questions about Logan as if I knew him. 

“Are you sure you're okay? You can stay at home—”

I smiled sparingly at Vika. "I'm good; you don't have to worry about me," I assured them, knowing that they would never stop calling. 

“Okay. Call us if you need anything,” Feliz said, as if they didn’t believe that I was fine. 

“Don’t worry about Eli. Vika and Argus have already talked to him,” Roux said before bidding goodbye. 

I sighed as I looked around our living room and kitchen, which were piled high with food and goods. And I'm sure they'll be back tomorrow, despite the fact that I just fainted. Vika and Argus won't even let me go to work, allowing me to relax and rest first. I'm not concerned about it right now, since I'm feeling okay. My problem right now is that Logan noticed my face and recognized me as Nia, which was not meant to happen.

Ishie quickly scolded me while I was unloading the goods, since her aunts had advised her to let me take a rest. I just told you that I'd just put some frozen goods in the fridge before going to my room.  I feel like a child now as she rants behind me. 

“You are always making people worry. When will you take care of yourself, Mom?” 

I bit my lower lip when I heard that. “Am I really doing that, baby?” 

She stopped walking and faced me. “Yes. you are making me worry. You always forget that you should be taking care of yourself because you have a daughter waiting for you,” she muttered as she started crying. 

And watching her cry in tears seemed to shatter my heart. She was correct; I had forgotten to take care of myself because I was always under the impression that I needed to be strong for her. I forgot that my daughter needed a parent, not just someone who would give her everything. 

I just cried and hugged him. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry if Mom keeps on hurting you," I whispered as I caressed her back.

I sometimes wish I could be a better mother to Ishie. I lose sight of what is most essential. I forget she's a child. What she feels should be the first thing I consider, especially when anything horrible occurs to me. She has no one. Our dinner arrived just as she was about to cease sobbing. Roux said we'd cook tomorrow, but right now we'll just have to take out food. Besides, it’s just Ishie and me, so it doesn’t bother me. 

I can't help but wonder what I did in my previous life for God to send me folks like this. People who have always been there for me in every aspect of my life. It makes me feel special and not alone and always shows me how good and nice the world is. 

Ishie and I got up early to go for a stroll in the park before I went to work. We do this every morning, but recently I've been swamped by my two jobs. We'll go for a walk to the café today, and we'll eat breakfast there as well. I persuaded Ishie one more time not to inform her aunts that I was going to work today. I can't just remain at home because I passed out the night before. 

“Mom, why have you been working so hard lately?”  

“So, I can buy everything you need.”

“Mom, I don’t need anything. Besides, you are more important to me than the things you can give." She shrugs and turns away. 

My daughter often thinks better than me. I am the one who frequently forgets things. I should be the one to ponder many things. I just shook my head and followed her, but while we were walking, a speeding car stopped in front of us. It's a red Chevrolet, and you don't have to guess if the owner is rich. 

I grabbed my daughter's hand again and pulled her away from there. "Wait up!" Ishie and I both looked up at the person blocking our way.

"Oh, Mister Logan!" Ishie said, referring to the man standing in front of us. 

He smiled and bowed in front of my daughter. "Hi, Ishie! I'm glad to see you again," he said to my daughter.

"I'm also glad to see you again, Mister Logan, but now we're in a hurry because my Mom is still working.

I closed my eyes and slightly pulled Ishie's hand to remind her not to say that. I really can't hide a secret from this little one. Her mouth is faster than her mind. 

“I thought you still needed...” 

Before Eli could finish what he was going to say, I turned to him and scowled. When he shut his mouth, I turned to Ishie and left. I don’t want to mingle with that man, because I feel like every time he is near me, something bad is happening to me. That man was really annoying. 

Arriving at the cafe, I just greeted my co-workers before timing in. I just changed into my uniforms while I left Ishie at a table away from the crowd. I also ordered food for the two of us to eat when there were no customers. But when I get back to our table, my daughter is already happily talking with someone sitting in front of her. 

I was filled with worry that he was harassing my daughter. But as I stopped in front of our table, I was shocked to find the man sitting there conversing with my daughter. “God, heaven! What are you doing here? And how the hell did you find us? Are you following us?” I asked him endless questions because I was afraid that he was following us.  

I was even more annoyed by the reason he gave. It was just a coincidence that he saw Ishie sitting next to the mirror. Eli said he was just worried that someone else might approach her. I wanted to argue with him, but Ishie was in front of us, and I didn’t want her to think about how I was misbehaving in front of her newfound friend. 

"So, let's eat!" he said as he winked at me.

I don’t know why I get annoyed with Eli, or maybe his presence every time I see him. Maybe because the rudeness of the attitude he showed me remained in my mind. Even though Eli always appeared in front of me and always helped me.